German ingenuity and research has given us a lot of the luxuries we enjoy in every day life, and has always been on the forefront of the future. Except for that 12 – 15 years in the early 20th century, they have always been highly regarded in the scientific world. Had one or two international issues been handled better after World War One, those 12 years probably would not have happened. Then again, Von Braun probably wouldn’t have gotten the funding he needed either so, the point is moot.

With out Von Braun, I don’t believe America would have ever made it to the Moon at all. He came to this country with all the necessary credentials in one neat little package. With out the “convenience” of his experience and expertise I don’t think this country would have had the attention span to get it done. We certainly would not have gotten there first.

I know that pulling off a rescue in space is virtually impossible, but the public needs to at least think there is a chance. What I was getting at was, if Obama thinks the first time we go to Mars we are going to simply orbit the planet and come home…… with out landing….. that is just a waste of time, money and needless risks.

Does anyone believe any astronaut wants to spend all that time in travel, finally get that close, and then NOT attempt a landing?

I am afraid that the country will have lost interest in the adventure before the mission even comes home. This country has a severe attention disorder and always has. And it gets worse every 8-9 months when another I-phone comes out.

Think about it, a country with the attention span of a gnat, and a two year mission with out achieving the real goal……

]]>By: Owain1955https://www.universetoday.com/62766/obama-wants-mission-to-asteroid-by-2025-mars-by-mid-2030s/#comment-79984
Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:34:34 +0000http://www.universetoday.com/?p=62766#comment-79984Obama wants to send a manned Mars orbiter!!?? Right, which group of astronauts is going to volunteer for that mission? Just for a look-see? If anyone does fly that mission I hope they’ll do what the Apollo X crew didn’t do when they did the simulated landing approach, and actually land. A one-way pioneering mission is the way to get to Mars.
]]>By: Paul Eaton-Joneshttps://www.universetoday.com/62766/obama-wants-mission-to-asteroid-by-2025-mars-by-mid-2030s/#comment-79971
Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:48:48 +0000http://www.universetoday.com/?p=62766#comment-79971Obama wants to send a manned Mars orbiter!!?? Right, which group of astronauts is going to volunteer for that mission? Just for a look-see? If anyone does fly that mission I hope they’ll do what the Apollo X crew didn’t do when they did the simulated landing approach, and actually land. A one-way pioneering mission is the way to get to Mars
]]>By: Hans-Peter Dollhopfhttps://www.universetoday.com/62766/obama-wants-mission-to-asteroid-by-2025-mars-by-mid-2030s/#comment-79809
Mon, 19 Apr 2010 08:35:41 +0000http://www.universetoday.com/?p=62766#comment-79809@ Uncle Sam

No, the German administration is completely incapable and ignorant in matters of space technology. Economic resources for ambitious space projects have been and still are available aplenty here in Germany.

On the basis of America’s help and friendship after WWII, this economy became “a leading exporter of machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and household equipment and benefits from a highly skilled labor force … The German economy – the fifth largest economy in the world in PPP terms and Europe’s largest” (CIA World Factbook).

Do not expect inspiration from Germany’s decision makers with regard to human space exploration. Jesco von Puttkamer a few years ago already told me that after one of his lectures. There was and still is plenty of wealth here but hardly any willingness.

Conclusion. Compared with the reluctance to promote human spaceflight on an independent economic basis in Germany, Americas argy-bargy none the less promises paradisiacal conditions.

]]>By: Vanamondehttps://www.universetoday.com/62766/obama-wants-mission-to-asteroid-by-2025-mars-by-mid-2030s/#comment-79798
Mon, 19 Apr 2010 03:18:34 +0000http://www.universetoday.com/?p=62766#comment-79798I dunno. The more I think about this, the worse I like it. It smells like a makework program to keep our finger in the space pie. It smells like a holding project to wait until the war and the economy is better, then oooo, then we might have a nice sexy Men to Mars project.

There is nothing that cannot be done as at asteroid that a well programmed robot cannot do. There is no real reason for people to go to an asteroid.

I would like us work together as one world and build a robot fleet that will BRING an asteriod to L5. Then let the terraforming begin.

]]>By: Uncle Fredhttps://www.universetoday.com/62766/obama-wants-mission-to-asteroid-by-2025-mars-by-mid-2030s/#comment-79794
Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:02:15 +0000http://www.universetoday.com/?p=62766#comment-79794“OBAMA is an idiot and has not done proper the research. What good is visiting an asteroid ??

There is plenty of research indicating that asteroids are resource rich beyond our wildest imagination. A decision to visit one is more than justifiable.

Also, your chances of being rescued around Mars will be no worse than those that Apollo crews faced (0% chance). If you think the Apollo astronauts could have been rescued in space, you are mistaken. No rescue vessel could have been constructed and flown in the few days or hours they might have had if something went array.

@Hans-Peter Dollhopf:

As awesome and capable as the German people have proven themselves to be, Germany was (and is) in no position to colonize the Moon. History it seems, has gotten in the way. WWII, Communist occupation, and lingering regional disparities have prevented Germany from ascending the economic ladder. Still, I’d look at the positive side of things. Now Germany can play a pivotal role in a more international European Union and still achieve great things within this united construct.

He claims to become “aware of the current economic environment, which was created by excesses of the American population and its corporations.” And that this is a reason why Americas space exploration makes false steps.

And what I tried to describe in my following comment was a nearly forgotten mental attitude. I simply wanted to talk about the way current America and current Germany generate wealth: out of nothing: through gambling on the stock exchange or by dealing on credit or by to buying and selling immovable property …

What I wanted to say is that progress in space cannot be realized with the concepts used to care for your retirement provision!

I wanted to state that you need to be aware that real wealth is generated on work benches and not on the telephones of financial brokers. And space exploration bases on real hardware and real job performance instead of monetary self-deception or the grants from the central government.

So my problem was not pride but the perspective on how we currently believe how progress can be generated.

I say that Germany never tried to colonize the Moon despite it had the inner attitude to deal with the requirements of a lunar environment, full of privations but also promising due to an abundance of resources and possibilities.

I guess that China is the todays world work bench. So I guess that they have the proper mental attitude to do the job. America instead more and more tries to solve its social problems and to meet its demands on juggling with virtual wealth. Until the next bubble bursts.

That’s a little harsh. Wernher von Braun came to the US and went on to be possibly the leading rocket scientist of his generation. The Apollo programme would have taken much longer without him. There is a lengthy list of Germans Nobel laureates, not least Albert Einstein, that have made a lasting contribution to science before and after moving to the US. The list is a little too long and a little off topic to give here. Take pride and cheer up.

@rudeyd

Yes and No. With the exception of He3, Lunar minerals are also present on Earth at a fraction of the cost. It’s too early to hit the He3 alarm button. No one has a built (or designed) a He3 fusion rector or any other less exotically fuelled fusion reactor either. NIF and ITER are struggling to break even on energy spent vs energy generated, although it will be a neat party trick when if happens.

Two astronauts have risen to NASA administrator role, Maj Gen Charles Bolden and Vice Adm. Richard Truly. If one ever makes it to the White House, lets hope they turn out to be a nut job like disgraced astronaut Lisa Nowak.

]]>By: kkphttps://www.universetoday.com/62766/obama-wants-mission-to-asteroid-by-2025-mars-by-mid-2030s/#comment-79776
Sun, 18 Apr 2010 03:41:34 +0000http://www.universetoday.com/?p=62766#comment-79776One of many challanges in this plan is selling it to the American people.

It is an interesting approach but I wish Mr. Obama had said something that showed the same kind of enthusiasm expressed by S. Pete Worden, Nasa Ames Research Center Director:

“I think one of the key things is, america will build the world’s first true spaceship. something you see in science fiction movies…people will get into this, they’ll go to the moon, next year they may go to mars, or an asteriod…so it provides a new capability…this will be exciting.” – April 10, 2010

He was speaking of a spacecraft built and stationed in orbit.

It it realistic? Others can decide. But, at least it is a vision people can wrap their heads around.

]]>By: rudeydhttps://www.universetoday.com/62766/obama-wants-mission-to-asteroid-by-2025-mars-by-mid-2030s/#comment-79775
Sun, 18 Apr 2010 02:13:13 +0000http://www.universetoday.com/?p=62766#comment-79775OBAMA is an idiot and has not done proper the research. What good is visiting an asteroid ?? I firmly believe we need practice before attempting to get to Mars. (You can’t orbit Mars then go back to land like we did the Moon – THAT’s stupid when it will be a two year trip!!!) At least if there is a safety issue or problem while going to the Moon, there is a chance to “rescue” the crew or help them.

Keep in mind we haven’t attempted anything that complicated in 35 years. If something goes wrong on the way to Mars, astronauts are just plain dead. The valuable minerals that exist on the Moon (titanium – HELIUM 3!!!) will be targeted by China and Russia, and if we aren’t involved we become a third world nation as soon as they figure out how to ship it back to Earth. What rationale is there for visiting an asteroid??? We have already landed on one and have visited many. That is a waste of time and money.
I agree that “Apollo on steroids” is a horrible idea – but we have already spent 50 billion dollars on it. There isn’t any company in this country that can come close to the experience or commitment and the only way a private company could afford it is by the government paying for it anyway. Never mind any REALISTIC time frame.

NASA was created to invent , explore, and experiment in the name of science and was given a true goal that is cherished by the public and professionals alike. To take them out of that portion of the business is like cutting off one of their hands. LET THEM DO WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING FOR 50 YEARS!!
Relying on a companies that have ZERO experience is dumb.

Why not ask our Astronauts who they would rather fly with??? They are the ones who will pay the price while the wannabes are gaining experience…….
I thinks he’s changing the mission just to put his finger prints on it.

We have to vote his ass out of office in 2012. What we really need is an astronaut in the White House!!!